MyCom Church Communications and Marketing

This episode walks through a practical audit of a church's digital presence—podcasts, livestreams, websites and social media—to identify accessibility barriers and easy fixes. Learn simple, actionable steps like adding transcripts and captions, improving audio and contrast, writing clear alt text and links, and offering content across multiple formats to welcome more people into online ministry. In this episode: (00:00) Improving digital accessibility (06:36) Importance of transcriptions and captions (10:21) Using descriptive alt text (11:24) Improving website accessibility (15:52) Accessibility tips for social content (20:22) Making content more accessible (21:49) Podcast resources and credits

Navigating tough conversations in today’s polarized climate is one of the most pressing challenges for church communicators and leaders. In this episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast, Rev. Dr. Scott Hughes, author of the Courageous Conversations curriculum, talks about how churches can respond to hot-button topics with a prophetic voice—without alienating their communities. Whether you’re crafting public statements on current events, encouraging difficult conversations, or seeking to equip your congregation for deeper unity, this episode will support your ministry with real-world examples and expert advice. (00:00) The church’s prophetic voice (03:08) Rev. Scott Hughes (04:19) Preachers reflecting on public responses (08:24) Speaking out in purple congregations (12:09) Examples of courageous conversations (16:18) The toughest topics to address in church (19:04) Introducing a tough topic in church (20:44) When it works to have a tough conversation (23:29) Crafting a public statement for your church (27:20) Refreshing for ministry (30:56) Speaking to our current times Scott is the Associate General Secretary (World Service) of Discipleship Ministries. Previously Scott served as Executive Director, Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship, and as both an associate pastor and pastor of a multi-point charge. Scott has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and a DMin in the spiritual formation track from Southern Methodist University. Scott is an elder in the North Georgia Conference since 2007. Scott was recommended for this specific conversation because of his work in developing the "Courageous Conversations" curriculum. Courageous Conversations is a toolbox that local churches can use to inspire and encourage the church and individuals to participate in conversations that might seem difficult–such as immigration or Christian Nationalism.

Unlock new pathways to spiritual growth and effective church communications. This episode revisits a practical and inspiring interview with clergy coach Nicole Reilley. Discover how digital ministry is more than just live-streaming worship—it's a vibrant, relational, and intentional journey that transforms the way churches connect, disciple, and empower communities of faith. Rev. Nicole Reilley is a clergy coach, church coach, and church social media manager.  With 30+ years of experience pastoring churches. She currently resources pastors through her podcast, The Clergy Wellness Podcast. In this interview we frequently reference a book she wrote, titled “Expanding the Expedition Through Digital Ministry”. In this episode: (00:00) Revisiting a conversation with Rev. Nicole Reilley (02:06) Is digital a poor substitute for in-person? (04:35) Digital ministry vs. church being online (08:24) Contemplation in the digital space (10:43) Pathways of discipleship in digital space (17:34) Invite to stay online or invite to be in-person? (22:17) Sharing digital ministry responsibilities (24:46) Digital ministry and house churches (26:41) Effective apps and platforms (29:36) Next dreams Whether you're building a hybrid church, just starting digital outreach, or looking to deepen your online community, this episode is packed with wisdom and actionable tips to enhance your digital ministry practice. Be sure to subscribe, like, and share for more insights on church communications and digital discipleship! Find notes and more: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

Are you a church communicator or ministry leader looking to boost engagement and effectiveness in your digital outreach? In this episode of MyCom, host Ryan Dunn shares practical strategies and fresh insights for connecting with listeners through podcasting, YouTube, and other broadcast channels. Drawing from years of experience and real-world examples, Ryan explores why podcasts often struggle to build an audience, how to define and serve your specific ministry niche, the power of consistency, and the advantages of expanding to YouTube for discoverability and interaction. In this episode: (00:00) How to get people listening to your content? (01:48) What is a podcast? (03:09) The value of longevity in podcasting (04:48) The “who” is integral to the “why” (07:52) Your “why” is the heart of the podcast (09:54) Being audience-specific in podcasting (10:30) The YouTube model of podcasting (13:34) Case study in podcasting: Brandon Robbins (16:01) A word from “Igniting Imagination” (17:08) Logical and scalable path for podcasts (18:33) The Compass podcast workflow (29:34) Descriptions are key! (33:07) Why consistency matters Whether you’re starting your ministry podcast or looking to enhance your church communications, this episode is packed with practical insights. Listen in and discover new ways to serve and engage your community! Find more helpful resources, episode notes, and listening recommendations: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

Looking to revitalize your church’s digital presence for the new year? In this episode of MyCom, host Ryan Dunn shares practical strategies and insider insights to help you grow your ministry and foster authentic connections online. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming to level up your church’s social media, you’ll learn actionable tips for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—with special focus on creating engaging content, leveraging platform algorithms, and tailoring your message for specific audiences. Discover how to: Build a welcoming and knowable digital church identity Turn your congregation into brand ambassadors for greater online reach Create share-worthy content that gets noticed in algorithm-driven feeds Use stories, reels, and long-form videos to deepen engagement Optimize your church’s video and search strategy for lasting impact Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction: New Year, New Social Media Strategy 02:25 — Ryan Dunn’s Journey: From Ministry to Digital Communications 03:31 — Setting the Table: Goals for Churches on Social Media 05:01 — Best Practices: Being Knowable & Engaging Online 06:25 — The Golden Rule: Serve the Platform and the Audience 08:06 — How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Ministry 09:02 — Facebook: Empowering Brand Advocates & Targeting Current Members 11:27 — Key Content Metrics: What Really Drives Sharing 13:06 — Instagram: Reels, Stories, and Engaging Younger Audiences 15:26 — Making Stories Work: Tips & Tricks 18:00 — Avoiding Story Overload & Measuring Success on Instagram 20:06 — TikTok: Reaching Young People, Search Trends, and Strategy Limitations 23:17 — Hashtags, Personal Accounts, and Maximizing Reach on TikTok 25:50 — YouTube: Video Search, Long-Term Value, and Organizing for Seekers 28:29 — Platform-Centric Content: The YouTube Approach 29:18 — Four Trends for 2025: Search, Long-Form Video, Quality, and Personal Approach 32:45 — Final Encouragement & Resources for Ongoing Growth Find more episodes and resources for your ministry: ResourceUMC.org/MyCom-Podcast  

Unlock the power of data in your church communications with this episode of "MyCom Church Communications and Marketing" Lauren Miers, Senior Communication Specialist of the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church, joins host Ryan Dunn to explore practical, actionable ways data can transform your ministry’s messaging and outreach. Whether you serve in a local church or a conference office, you’ll learn how to use both qualitative and quantitative data to make smarter decisions, reach the right audiences, and give your congregation what they truly need. In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction & Why Data Matters in Church Communications 02:01 – Lauren Miers’ Background & Journey 03:54 – Defining Data Driven Communications 06:11 – Measuring Value & True Impact with Data 08:41 – Matching Content to the Right Platforms 10:07 – Communication Planning & Feedback Loops 14:40 – Workflow: Building Habits for Reviewing Data 21:00 – The Tools Behind Effective Data Collection 23:01 – Postmortem Data: Pivoting Your Ministry Plan 26:26 – Pet Data Points & What They Reveal 29:00 – Using Data to Truly Know Your Audience 30:50 – Easy Ways to Start Implementing Data Practices 33:27 – Bringing Others on Board with Data Insights 36:19 – Final Thoughts & Open Source Resources If you want your ministry to work smarter and have a bigger impact, watch this episode and discover how data can help you connect, adapt, and grow. Don’t forget to subscribe for more practical episodes on church communications and marketing! Episode notes and more: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast This episode mentions these partner links: United Methodist Higher Education Foundation: www.umhef.org United Methodist Communications Giving Tuesday: www.umcom.org/GT2025

With endless digital content competing for our focus, let's explore the impact of technology on church engagement, share practical strategies for creating meaningful connections online, and invite churches to become sanctuaries for attention—places where people's presence is honored rather than exploited. Whether you're a church communicator, leader, or just curious about ministry in the digital age, this episode offers thoughtful ideas and actionable tips for making your church story stand out with purpose and peace.  

Get ready to rethink church communications and ministry! In this episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast, host Ryan Dunn sits down with the leadership team from First United Methodist Church of San Diego to explore their journey of transformation in the aftermath of the pandemic. Discover practical strategies for "rewilding" your church—embracing digital innovation, shifting mindsets, and inviting your congregation into the future of ministry. Joining Ryan in this episode are: - Rev. Trudy Robinson, Lead Pastor - Rev. Dr. Hannah Ka, Pastor of Discipleship - Rev. Brittany Juliette Hanlin, Pastor of Connection and Care - Meghan Claussen, Director of Communications 00:00 – Introduction & What’s “Rewilding” the Church? 02:26 – Meet the FUMC San Diego Leadership Team 04:15 – The Catalyst for Change: Shifting Church Culture 07:47 – Visioning Process: How the Journey Began 10:08 – Proposals for Ministry Innovation 14:10 – From Bible Study to Podcast: Transforming Discipleship 18:00 – Digital Evangelism, Workshops & Empowering Congregants 22:33 – Overcoming Resistance & Building Buy-In 26:39 – Key Performance Indicators: Measuring Engagement 29:04 – Defining and Celebrating Success in Today’s Church 33:49 – “Rewilding”: Following the Wild Spirit 36:29 – Lessons Learned & Language Barriers 41:43 – Empowering All Generations for Change 44:36 – Takeaways & Next Steps for Your Ministry Find more episodes of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast This episode is sponsored by: - wearesparkhouse.com - umcom.org #ChurchCommunications #ChurchMarketing #DigitalMinistry #RewildingTheChurch #MyComPodcast

Discover how to build a vibrant digital church community that thrives beyond traditional walls in this inspiring episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast! Host Ryan Dunn sits down with Erin Beasley and Sean Stanfield to unpack the story behind The Vine United Methodist Church, a digital United Methodist faith community born out of disaffiliation. Whether you’re starting an online ministry, seeking fresh discipleship strategies, or looking to deepen authentic connections in a digital world, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, innovation, and hope for the future of church communications. Connect with The Vine: https://www.thevineumc.church/ ⏰ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction: Reimagining Church After Disaffiliation 01:45 – The Origin of The Vine: Meeting a Real Need 04:14 – Going Global: Leveraging Social Media for Outreach 06:08 – Creative Content: Short Sermons, Podcasts, & Tough Topics 08:59 – Building Community: Engaging Feedback & Discipleship Pathways 11:53 – Online Communion: Creating Sacred Moments Virtually 16:40 – From Viewers to Disciples: Inviting Deeper Connection 18:38 – Vulnerability Online: Why Digital Spaces Foster Openness 21:06 – Branch Groups & ‘Branch Managers’: Small Group Strategies 23:10 – Digital Church Planting Models: From Branches to Congregations 26:18 – Hot Topics: Church Hurt, Justice, and Connecting the Margins 29:30 – Lessons Learned & Advice for Aspiring Digital Ministers 33:37 – What’s Next for The Vine? Dreams and Missional Expansion 38:06 – Social Media Tactics: Growth on TikTok & Instagram 41:09 – Key Takeaways & Episode Close This episode brought to us by: RootedGood.org Cokesbury.com/Call-Response 🔗 Find more resources & episode notes: https://resourceumc.org/mycompodcast

Let's embark on a virtual "road trip" with the creative team from First United Methodist Church Richardson in Texas. Joined by Creative Director Rohini Drake, Engagement Coordinator Mallory Pickering, and Technical Director Tyler Payne, the group shares insights from their summer worship series, "Road Trip," where they traveled to places of spiritual connection—like Hot Springs, Arkansas and the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville—capturing prayer moments, stories, and immersive worship content along the way. Together, they discuss the power of taking church outside its physical walls, forging new connections, and using digital storytelling to engage both local and online faith communities. Buckle up as we dive into inspirational stories, practical content creation tips, and the heart behind connecting congregations in fresh, meaningful ways. Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode: How a multi-stop road trip became an immersive worship series called “Road Trip.” The art of capturing unplanned, authentic faith moments—rain, gratitude toads, and all! Creative techniques for sharing stories across online and in-person platforms. Insights on breaking the walls of the church building and experiencing God’s presence wherever you are. Tips on community engagement and keeping your congregation connected, even from afar. See how the community around FUMC Richardson is engaging project: www.fumcr.com/roadtrip See episode notes and explore other episodes of MyCom: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast This episode is sponsored by: www.RootedGood.org The Progressive Planter: https://www.cokesbury.com/The-Progressive-Planter 

Unlock practical strategies for digital ministry in this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing and Communications podcast! Host Ryan Dunn sits down with Olivia DiAgostino, executive for United Women in Faith Digital, to explore how United Women in Faith is building a thriving online community for women of faith. Whether you're a ministry leader, church communicator, or simply passionate about community building, this episode is packed with real-world insights on human-centered design, creating meaningful online connections, and sustainable community engagement. Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Episode Overview 01:28 – Meet Olivia DiAgostino (Role and Digital Community Scope) 03:25 – Building Digital Community & Why UW Faith Went Digital 05:20 – From Content to Community: What Changed? 06:45 – Making Community Engagement Work & Tips for Consistent Participation 08:40 – Organic Leadership & Member-Driven Moderation 11:39 – Creating Groups: Organic, Intentional Growth Strategies 12:58 – When Digital Community Crosses Into the Real World 16:07 – Rituals of Welcome: Bringing Hospitality to Online Spaces 19:42 – Navigating Tech Resistance and Platform Fatigue 22:08 – Maintaining a Trusted, Respectful Digital Environment 24:09 – Moderation Guidelines: Sisterhood of Grace 26:03 – Why Mighty Networks? Choosing the Right Digital Platform 27:02 – Practical Advice for Ministry Leaders Starting Digital Communities 28:55 – Open Invitation: Who Can Join UW Faith Digital? 30:27 – Closing Thoughts & Resources Find episode notes and more: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast #ChurchCommunications #DigitalMinistry #CommunityBuilding #MyComPodcast #UnitedWomenInFaith

Struggling with stagnant social media engagement in your ministry? You’re not alone! In this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing & Communications Podcast, host Ryan Dunn unpacks practical strategies to breathe new life into your church’s social media presence. Whether you’re a church leader, communicator, or volunteer, you'll discover actionable insights to boost engagement, connect with your community more meaningfully, and expand your digital reach. Learn why likes and reach might not be the best metrics, how to create content that platforms and people love, and why stories and DMs can become secret weapons for authentic connection. Plus, find out simple ways to make your church more visible and supportive in your digital neighborhood. Key Insights: Rethink your metrics: Focus on shares and link clicks for real impact Make the most of Instagram Stories to engage your community (with or without sound!) Use direct messages strategically to deepen relationships Become an active digital neighbor to boost your church’s visibility Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Facing stagnant social media 01:23 – The truth about engagement & platform algorithms 03:21 – Rethinking success: Likes, reach, and real value 06:06 – Why "prayers get shares" and event promotion tips 10:00 – Maximizing Stories: Format, features, and engagement hacks 15:04 – Harnessing DMs for meaningful connection 17:49 – Be an active digital neighbor: Community engagement 18:42 – Recap: Takeaways for revitalizing your practice of ministry Subscribe to stay inspired and get more tools for transforming your church’s communications strategy! Find more resources for your ministry at resourceumc.org.

Rev. Brandon Robbins shares his journey from becoming a parish pastor to flourishing as a YouTube content creator, offering invaluable insights for anyone looking to expand their ministry's reach online. Discover how Brandon leveraged YouTube to enhance his pastoral work, learn about the challenges and strategies involved in growing an online presence, and get inspired by his story of persistence, passion, and purpose in ministry.

In this episode of MyCom Church Communications and Marketing, we’re getting an inspiring story out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Matt Austin and Matt Patrick are co-pastors at University United Methodist Church.  Matt and Matt share their journey of reimagining church sustainability through alternate income models, space utilization, and unique ventures like their very own coffee trailer in this episode. Plus, they discuss the importance of embracing change, fostering a culture of learning, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Whether you're in church leadership or just passionate about community innovation, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

This episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast explores the evolving relationship between the church and young adults with guests Kristopher Sledge and Rachel Gilmore. As pastors and co-authors of the book "Followers Under 40," they explore how Millennials, Zoomers, and Gen Alpha relate differently to institutions and discuss practices that help in connecting with them. Kristopher Sledge, lead pastor of the multi-ethnic Journey Church in Harrisburg, PA, and Rachel Gilmore, director of New and Vital Faith for the Desert Southwest Conference, share their insights on understanding youth culture, engaging with social issues, and embracing digital tools. They emphasize the importance of authenticity, listening, and dialogue in reaching the next generation. The episode also covers practical steps for churches to become more inclusive and relevant, such as creating safe spaces for exploration of faith and identity, and how churches can reimagine their presence in digital spaces to better connect with young and digital-native audiences. This episode is sponsored by: Celebrate Wonder Digital Curriculum brings Bible stories to life with interactive lessons that help kids build stronger relationships with God and each other! Visit cokesburykids.com/celebratewonder to download a sample today! Find more resources and episodes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

Learn practical strategies for enhancing your church’s digital communications with expert Katie Allred, founder of Church Communications Group. From managing social media engagement to optimizing YouTube content, discover how to create meaningful two-way conversations with your congregation online. Katie shares insights on effectively using Facebook groups, responding to comments, and leveraging AI for ministry efficiency. Key Topics: Engaging authentically with social media comments Creating searchable YouTube content for ministry Using Facebook groups vs pages effectively Positioning church content for better reach Managing digital community conversations (00:00) “Digital Tools for Church Communication” (04:17) From Harry Potter Forums to Ministry (09:42) Engage in Social Media Comments (13:13) Lent 2025 Devotional Guide (15:24) Encouraging Engaging Church Comments (18:40) Churches Utilizing YouTube Better (21:13) Internet Authority: Perception Versus Reality (26:39) Facebook Group: Deeper Conversations & Networking (28:08) “Private Conversations Over Public Debate” Find more episodes and episode notes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

It’s a data-driven conversation with Ryan Burge, a social scientist and minister, who explores the intricate factors influencing church growth and decline. Burge sheds light on how external demographics, strategic church planting, and the balance between divine calling and data-driven decisions shape religious communities. The episode also covers clergy satisfaction, positive chaplaincy experiences, the evolving religious landscape, and how Substack fosters meaningful audience engagement. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on the complexities of religion in modern society. In this episode: (00:00) Guide pastors to think like social scientists. (06:39) Churches largely apolitical; misconceptions about religion exist. (08:18) Context influences church growth more than efforts. (17:16) Bridging religious and non-religious through impartiality. (18:45) The numbers readers care about. (23:45) Email remains essential, resilient against platform changes. (28:23) Recommended podcast episodes for digital strategies. Find more notes and connect with MyCom: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast #ChurchGrowth #ReligiousTrends #RyanBurge #MyComPodcast #Demographics #StrategicPlanning #ClergySatisfaction #Substack #DataDrivenDecisions #ReligionAndSociety #ReligiousData #Chaplains #CommunityBuilding #AmericanReligion #Podcast Keywords: church growth, religious trends, Ryan Burge, MyCom Podcast, demographics, church planting, clergy satisfaction, chaplaincy, data-driven decisions, religion and society, Substack, social scientist, religious data.

In this episode of MyCom, we’re talking with Mark Elsdon. Mark helps us dissect the evolving nature of church property stewardship and the pivotal role congregations can play in their communities. The episode sheds light on numerous innovative approaches for churches dealing with property and financial transitions, emphasizing mission-driven strategies that align with both historical teachings and contemporary needs. Mark Elsdon is the director of Pres House at UW-Madison and oversaw it’s transformation into a 250 unit apartment complex. He is co-founder of Rooted Good. He is ordained in the PCUSA. And has written two books: “Gone for Good” and “We Aren’t Broke”. In this episode: (00:00) Reassessing faith communities amidst change and scarcity. (05:53) Traditional giving model becoming unsustainable for churches. (07:47) Accelerating church involvement. (13:08) Focus church activities on mission, not business. (16:07) Traditional Sunday church attendance is declining. (18:59) Interview community to identify needs and solutions. (22:07) Exploring community impressions, strengths, and opportunities. (24:54) Church ownership shift: considerate property transition discussions. (28:37) Church donated closed property for housing. (33:42) Start with community listening before technical aspects. (35:47) Sell smartly, consider future impact and legacy. MyCom is produced by United Methodist Communications. Find show notes and more episodes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

In this milestone 100th episode of the MyCOM Church Marketing Podcast, host Ryan Dunn welcomes former producer and host Dan Wunderlich, an elder in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church and pastor at Lakeside UMC. Join us for a deep dive into digital ministry, church communications, and innovative outreach strategies. Discover how technology and improv can enhance your church’s visibility and engagement. Perfect for church leaders seeking to adapt to changing tech trends and improve their digital outreach. Topics Covered: – Dan’s journey from pastoring to podcasting – Using improv techniques in ministry – Adapting to new technology in church communication – Future trends in social media and youth tech use – Strategies for engaging sermon content – AI tools in ministry and social media strategies Don’t miss this insightful conversation that’s packed with valuable tips for church leaders! Be sure to subscribe and hit the bell icon to stay updated with our latest episodes. In this episode: (00:00) Celebrating the 100th MyCom episode (03:23) Dan Wunderlich reflects on his 77 episodes, remote collaboration success. (07:35) Interviews with diverse professionals broadened my perspective. (12:11) Balancing creativity with audience preference is key. (16:13) Strategy became outdated; learning by doing necessary. (17:27) Early adopter of Facebook for ministry outreach. (22:41) Gen Z editor excels in trendy video styles. (23:41) Struggling to condense nuanced messages concisely. (26:42) Strives for connection by improvising during sermons. (31:24) Shift towards low-tech, mindful tech use. (36:13) Future of United Methodist Church: contraction, adaptation, renewal. (38:24) Episode 100 concluded; next episode in one month. #DigitalMinistry #ChurchCommunications #ChurchMarketing #TechnologyAndReligion #DigitalOutreach #UnitedMethodistChurch #ImprovInMinistry #SermonPreparation #FutureOfChurch #PodcastingForChurches #SocialMediaStrategy

Discover how digital ministry has transformed from a niche to an essential part of church outreach. Dive into our latest MyCom episode for insights on purposeful digital ministry that bridges real and virtual communities. Tap into practical strategies and insightful discussions featuring Charles Vogl, Dr. Kelly Price, Mike Kim, Nelson Musonda, and Dana Malstaff. In this episode: (00:00) Crash course in digital ministry and community-building. (05:27) Value promise essential for audience engagement and retention. (09:23) Four categories of motivating behavior. (12:14) Personal brand: ideas, expertise, reputation, personality. (17:33) Finding questions helps build online spiritual community. (21:08) Create supportive, engaging posts to influence others. (25:27) Compelling topics for valuable content (27:10) Creating valuable, user-focused content by connecting beliefs. MyCom is a production of United Methodist Communications and releases new episodes on the final Tuesday of each month. Find notes and more episodes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

In this episode of MyCom, host Ryan Dunn engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Reverend J.J. Warren about the intricacies of building genuine emotional connections within digital church communities. Drawing from his theological background and experiences with the Young Prophets Collective, J.J. discusses the evolution of virtual worship spaces, the significance of platforms like Discord and Instagram, and the challenges of maintaining boundaries in digital ministry. Join us as we explore innovative ways to foster intimacy and inclusivity in online spiritual environments and navigate the complexities of virtual engagement. In this episode: (00:00) Pastor J.J. Warren’s digital journey and advocacy. (03:21) Misconceptions about young people and social media. (06:43) The pandemic raised questions about online church. (11:45) Social media as an extension of self. (15:37) Creating safe digital space for excluded young people. (19:02) Cultural practices in the Philippines adapting to online. (23:18) Church offers more agency; relieving stress/anxiety. (27:26) Create a private space for intimate communication. (31:12) Virtual gatherings around the world for worship. (35:12) Proximity and intimacy in virtual private space. (39:29) Connecting community through intentional online church platform. (43:01) Setting digital boundaries as a Gen Zer. MyCom is a production of United Methodist Communications and releases new episodes on the final Tuesday of each month. Find notes and more episodes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

In this episode, host Rev. Ryan Dunn chats with guests Nathan Webb and Shane Russo about their innovative strategies for utilizing YouTube to grow their digital church communities. They dive deep into the tools, challenges, and unique approaches they leverage for successful content creation and audience engagement. Rev. Shane Russo is the founder and lead architect of GoBe.church–an all-digital expression of church. He also is currently the lead pastor of Niles First United Methodist Church in Niles, Ohio. Check out the YouTube ministry @GoBeChurch Rev. Nathan Webb, AKA “Nerd Pastor Nate”, is the founding pastor of Checkpoint Church–an all-digital ministry for nerds, geeks and gamers. He posts regularly on YouTube at @CheckpointChurch The Checkpoint Church viral video Nathan and Shane referred to is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZUpgTMhNJc&t=5s In this episode: (00:00) Introducing Rev. Ryan Dunn, the new host (05:40) Juggling physical church with online ministry growth. (08:03) Transition from Twitch to YouTube reshaped outreach. (11:44) Elements of organic virality, phenomena, Christian controversy. (15:38) Experimenting with shorts to build online community. (19:31) Strategize content and platform usage with purpose. (22:35) Strategy for using YouTube in growing audience. (25:30) Pastor discusses controversial topics, aims to inspire. (28:36) Reluctant to engage online, but considering it. (36:19) Dealing with toxic comments as vandalism. (39:40) Channel strives for inclusion, not doormat behavior. (42:39) Better timing and more strategic content choices. (44:43) Creating and scheduling content efficiently across platforms. (48:07) Effortlessly segment and create phenomenal clips. (51:58) Video optimization and analytics. (55:03) UMC podcast highlights digital storytelling and leadership. For more episodes and episode notes: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

AI remains a hot topic online, in the news, and in the church. UMCommunications recently hosted a webinar on AI, and hundreds of people like you signed up. We have seen an explosion of AI tools – from standalone or customized apps (like PulpitAI, which we discussed earlier this year) to AI integrations in apps you are likely already using. The next generation of phones, tablets, and computers are being developed with AI built right in. So, as AI becomes even more integrated in our daily lives, we wanted to continue the conversation here on the podcast. Joining us today to help with that is Rev. James Lee, Director of Communications for the Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey Conferences of the United Methodist Church.

Communications expert, Sabrina Joy Stevens will be hosting a MyCom Webinar on May 15th at 12pm (CST) to help our leaders with Clarity over Confusion post General Conference. Register here: https://umcom.zoom.us/webinar/register/7317103461585/WN_lIZSl3OmRcO8ykOHW356UA Subscribe to MyCom Podcasts on YouTube here: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are joined by someone who is an adept speaker, teacher, and all-around communications expert, Sabring Joy Stevens. Sabrina is not only our podcast guest today, but she’s also leading a webinar in May 2024 that is going to be a huge help to all of us as we respond to the General Conference both locally and online. Take some time today to learn how you can be a better digital storyteller for your church, or ministry, or even improve your personal communication using her strategies. This MyCom Podcast is brought to you by UMC News, visit www.umnews.org to get today’s current news and sign up to get it daily in your inbox! Looking for the BeUMC Leader Kit mentioned in the podcast? Find it here: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/people-of-god-campaign-new To see & hear more MyCom content, visit https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/mycom #mycom #umc #beumc #unitedmethodistchurch #technology #techtips #outreach #marketingstrategy #marketing #digitalmarketing #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing #churchleadershipresources #churchleadership #ministry #communicationskills #communicationscoaching

We spoke with UMCOM Video Producer, Kathryn Price, several years ago as we were all navigating the pandemic. On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we’re checking back in with her both for a refresher on creating sermon videos and to see what new tools and features we could all be using! This MyCom Podcast is brought to you by EO Tours, to learn more about their customized tours visit here: https://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/sl24092924n#eotours To see & hear more MyCom content, visit https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/mycom

Last year, we dipped our toes in the water of AI with an excellent primer from Kenny Jahng on what generative AI is, some ministry uses, and how to get started. Since then, I have personally used AI tools to help me refine and clarify my thoughts and writing, as a brainstorming partner in sermon prep, and I have even generated a few images for sermon series and church events. Then, late last year, I ran across a new AI tool specifically tuned for ministry that seemed to offer many of the benefits AI offers – like saving time and bringing clarity – while also avoiding some of the potential pitfalls – like the AI just making things up. And for those of us specifically doing the work of church communications, this type of AI tool can help us streamline the repurposing of content your church is already generating week-in and week-out. On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking about extending the sermon with the help of artificial intelligence. And we have the privilege of welcome the creator of one of these tools as well as a UMC pastor who is all in on discovering ways to use tech like this to make disciples. Our guests today are Michael Whittle, the Founder and CEO of PulpitAI, as well as Rev. Chad Brooks, a UMC elder who wears many hats – from local church pastor to Conference Congregational Vitality Strategist to the guy behind the Productive Pastor extended universe. Subscribe to MyCom and get additional information at: www.resourceumc.org/mycom

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we welcome Rev. Melissa Pisco to talk about how a ministry that is intentionally inclusive of people with disabilities can offer a way to connect with those who are not yet a part of your church. For more info about Dan Wunderlich go to: https://www.defininggrace.com/ =============== For over 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

“The king is dead! Long live the king!” On today’s episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan takes us on a journey to revisit the relevance of the written word. Reports of the written word’s death have been greatly exaggerated. For more info about Dan Wunderlich go to: https://www.defininggrace.com/ This episode of the MyCom Podcast is sponsored by United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. To learn more go to: https://umhef.org/ It is also sponsored by Discipleship Ministries – Creating a Narrative Budget – The Story Behind the Numbers. Find out more at: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/creating-a-narrative-budget-the-story-behind-the-numbers =============== For over 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

In the middle of the summer, seemingly out of nowhere, there was suddenly a new social media network: Threads – the Twitter competitor from Instagram. Whether it is a brand new network that appears in the middle of the night, or there’s a platform on the rise, or simply one your church hasn’t been a part of but you’re thinking about it – there are some questions you should consider before making the jump. And those are the questions we are tackling on this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast. For more info about Dan Wunderlich go to: https://www.defininggrace.com/ This episode of the MyCom Podcast is sponsored by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. To learn more go to: https://www.pts.edu/henderson-2324 It is also sponsored by The Source eNewsletter. The Source highlights the latest, most helpful content from ResourceUMC.org. United Methodist leaders — both clergy and laypeople – rely on the site’s comprehensive ministry information and inspiration. Subscribe at: The Source =============== For over 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

Have you ever looked at your church logo and thought, “It might be time for a change.”? On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we welcome back graphic designer and YouTuber Will Paterson to help walk us through the basics of logo design. For more info about Will Paterson go to: https://www.willpaterson.design/ https://www.youtube.com/@willpatersondesign https://linktr.ee/willpaterson This episode of the MyCom Podcast is sponsored by Safer Sanctuaries: Safer Sanctuaries resources are endorsed by the Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church for use when developing an abuse prevention program. To learn more go to https://www.SaferSanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433 =============== For over 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, Dan hops over the pond (digitally) and talks to professional graphic designer Will Paterson, resident of the United Kingdom, about 5 graphic design hacks that will help you get started with your own creations, and will help no matter which side of the street you drive on. For more info about Will Paterson go to:: https://www.willpaterson.design/ https://www.youtube.com/@willpatersondesign https://linktr.ee/willpaterson This episode of the MyCom Podcast is sponsored by Safer Sanctuaries: Safer Sanctuaries resources are endorsed by the Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church for use when developing an abuse prevention program. To learn more go to https://www.SaferSanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433 =============== For over 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way churches engage with their congregations. This episode features Kenny Jahng, who discusses the different ways AI is already being used in our lives and how churches can experiment with these tools to enhance outreach efforts and support their ministries. For more info about Kenny Jahng go to: https://www.kennyjahng.com/ https://churchtechtoday.com/ This episode of the MyCom Podcast is sponsored by Safer Sanctuaries: Safer Sanctuaries resources are endorsed by the Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church for use when developing an abuse prevention program. To learn more go to https://www.SaferSanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433 =============== For over 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

In part 2 of our conversation with Brady Shearer, Dan dives into what the 1 page church social media plan is, and how churches have entered an era that finally gives them an advantage in the social media world. For more info about Brady Shearer and Pro Church Tools go to: https://www.nucleus.church/ https://prochurchtools.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ProChurchTools https://www.facebook.com/prochurchtools https://twitter.com/bradyshearer This episode of the MyCom Podcast is sponsored by Safer Sanctuaries: Safer Sanctuaries resources are endorsed by the Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church for use when developing an abuse prevention program. To learn more go to https://www.SaferSanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433 Catch Part 1 at: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/mycom-podcast-ep-083-social-media-shift For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking to Brady Shearer, CEO of Pro Church Tools, who says the new era of social media that is dawning is one in which churches finally have a massive advantage. For more info about Brady Shearer and Pro Church Tools go to: https://www.nucleus.church/ https://prochurchtools.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ProChurchTools https://www.facebook.com/prochurchtools Tweets by BradyShearer Catch Part 2 at: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/mycom-podcast-ep-084-social-media-plan For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

The first step in successful marketing is always knowing your audience, congregation, and/or community. On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are looking at 3 simple techniques you can employ when you’re talking to people in your church and community that will help you get to know them in a way that can inform and shape your church marketing and communications. For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by EO Travel. Christian journeys with Educational Opportunities Tours enriches the faith and lives of believers, empowers teachers and preachers, and is an unforgettable way to build your faith community. For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

Welcome to the era of the discovery algorithm, and on this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking about one of the ways you can work toward being discovered in 2023. For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by EO Travel. Christian journeys with Educational Opportunities Tours enriches the faith and lives of believers, empowers teachers and preachers, and is an unforgettable way to build your faith community. For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan is going to share with 3 lessons he learned in 2022 and 3 predictions he has for 2023. For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, Dan talks to the Get Your Spirit in Shape podcast host Crystal Caviness about the power of the interview. For more info about Crystal and to listen to her podcast, Get Your Spirit in Shape, go to: https://www.umc.org/en/content/get-your-spirit-in-shape or https://www.umc.org/en/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, Dan runs down the checklist of what we need to do to get ready for Christmas. That’s right, Christmas is just around the corner! Here are the five to-do’s Dan breaks down for this upcoming Christmas season. 1. Discern and/or translate the theme 2. Define the roadmap and entry points to the theme 3. Choose your marketing channels 4. Choose a design direction/aesthetic 5. Apply design across needed resources For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, we get to reconnect with a returning guest Jeanette Yates! Jeanette is a part of the team at Text In Church and will be talking about texting for the church. Download your FREE Text Messaging Playbook from Text in Church at: Text Messaging Playbook This episode is sponsored by Terri Lynn Fundraising. Get your FREE sample at: https://www.terrilynn.com/umc For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On today’s episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are bringing you the next installment of our occasional feature called “How We Work.” On these special episodes, we feature interviews with real life United Methodists digging into the practical details of how they do the work of church marketing and communications. We are talking to Piper Ramsey-Sumner. Piper is on the Fresh Expressions Florida Conference Team and is a Cultivator of Fresh Expressions specifically in the Northwest District of the Florida Conference. For more info on Fresh Expressions go to: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On today’s episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking about a title we all share whether we realize it or not, and that is Tour Guide for the great engagement journey! For more info about Dan: https://www.defininggrace.com/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

If someone came up to you in church to say “Hi”, you wouldn’t turn around and just ignore them. Don’t do that online either! This month on the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan talks to Renee McNeill about how to think differently about your church’s social media platforms. For more information on Renee McNeill and Local Church Services go to: www.resourceumc.org/lcs For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

The future is now! On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking about church in the metaverse! Virtual Reality becomes actual reality more every day. Dan talks to Rev. Dr. Michael Beck about how his church utilizes the virtual world. For more information on Rev. Dr. Michael Beck go to: For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

Summer is quickly approaching, and your ministry team is no doubt ramping up for one of the great summer church traditions: Vacation Bible School! So on this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking all things VBS! For more information on Cokesbury VBS, find info at: https://www.cokesburyvbs.com/ https://www.facebook.com/CokesburyVBS This episode is sponsored by World Press Freedom Day, find out more at umnews.org/FreePress For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

In part 2 of our short series on issues relating to self-care, Dan tackles why a nap might not be the answer to your sleepiness. See why emotional labor might be the culprit and some things you can try to help alleviate the grogginess. Here is the link to the interview published in Scientific American that Dan mentioned during the podcast: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/emotional-labor-is-a-store-clerk-confronting-a-maskless-customer/ This episode is sponsored by #BeUMC: The BeUMC leader toolkit equips local churches and annual conferences by providing messaging and resources. Visit https://www.ResourceUMC.org/BeUMC For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

We have all faced the dreaded blank page – whether it is a literal blank page in our word processor, a blank canvas in our graphic design program, or an empty social media calendar. There are seasons of life when this is an exciting invitation, and seasons of life when it is a nightmare. As we approach the 2 year anniversary of the start of the covid-19 pandemic, we are going to take a few episodes to touch on topics that involve the realm of self-care. So, on this episode, Dan explores why we run out of ideas and what we can do about it. For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this third and final episode of the “podcasting trilogy”, Dan runs through several recommendations of podcasts that are incredible examples of storytelling, teaching the Bible and much more. If you want to know what other podcasters are doing within this medium, here’s a great place to start to figure out what to listen to. For more information on the podcasts discussed, find links below: UMC Affiliated Podcasts: https://www.umc.org/en/rethink-church/compass-podcast https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/podcasts/digital-parish-podcast https://www.umc.org/en/content/get-your-spirit-in-shape https://www.la-umc.org/podcast https://www.defininggrace.com/artofthesermon/ Storytelling Podcasts: https://99percentinvisible.org/ https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anthropocene-reviewed Trusted Resources Podcasts: https://www.akimbo.link/ https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/podcasts The Q&A Show Podcasts: https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Weekday/Ask-NT-Wright-Anything https://prochurchtools.com/free-tools/?tab=podcast Teaching the Bible podcasts: https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/the-bible-project-podcast/ https://www.pulpitfiction.com/ Prayer and Contemplation podcast: https://pray-as-you-go.org/ Kids and Family podcasts: https://www.yourclassical.org/podcast/yourclassical-storytime https://www.highlightskids.com/listen https://tinkercast.com/shows/wow-in-the-world/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, Dan talks to fellow podcaster Ryan Dunn, host of the Pastoring in the Digital Age and the Compass podcasts, about the basics on how to get started in podcasting. For more information on Ryan, you can take a listen at his podcasts at: https://www.umc.org/en/rethink-church/compass-podcast https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/podcasts/digital-parish-podcast or contact him at: [email protected] Here’s info on some of the tools talked about on the podcast: Home https://fireside.fm/ Heil Sound PR 40 https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm58 https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm7b https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/atr2100-usb https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/yeti/ https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/podtrak-recorders/podcast-recorders/podtrak-p4/ https://focusrite.com/en/usb-audio-interface/scarlett/scarlett-2i2 https://zencastr.com/ https://www.audacityteam.org/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/UMCPodcasters This episode is brought to you by: Sparkhouse Digital is a rich and reliable resource for faith formation. Subscriptions to each age group include unlimited access to leader resources, videos, music, reproducibles, and exclusive extras for early childhood, children, and youth. Popular curriculums included are Spark: Activate Faith Sunday school, Re:form, and Collaborate Methodist Confirmation. New resources and exclusive extras are added regularly to each age level including the popular seasonal Digital Activity Kits. Sign up for a 30-day free trial with unlimited access and seven free downloads. No credit card required. Learn more and start your 30-day free trial today at: https://www.SparkhouseDigital.org For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom​​ Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Outreach eBook – http://bit.ly/MyCom-eBook-SignUp​​​​ =============== Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause! MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom Sign up for MyCom e-Newsletter sent twice monthly: Subscribe Now! We’d love your input! Send ideas to [email protected]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, Dan talks to Rev Todd Rossnagel, the Director of Communication Strategies for the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Todd, a podcaster himself, talks about how churches can and should start to consider starting a podcast themselves. For more information on Todd, you can take a listen at his podcast “Louisiana NOW” at: https://www.la-umc.org/podcast or contact him at: [email protected] This episode is brought to you by: Sparkhouse – Sparkhouse Digital is a rich and reliable resource for faith formation. Features include: – Three 7-week small group studies – Great way to start social justice conversations in your church Find out more at: www.WeAreSparkhouse.org/Dialogues-On and Breeze Church Management – With over 400 5-star reviews, Breeze has been rated the easiest to use church management software by Capterra. When you sign up for Breeze, you’ll receive both email and phone support at no additional cost, so you’ll never have to worry about having questions go unanswered. Additionally, to help make the move-in process as easy as possible, Breeze will do the work for you. Their move-in team will work to export out your data from your existing system and import it into your new Breeze account…for free! You can learn more about Breeze and start a free 30-day trial at breezechms.com – https://www.breezechms.com For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing. This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation. www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom